French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure

French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.

French police have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.

"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."

Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.

Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the vessels.

The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.

This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

Now French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.

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